Emergence of tablet computers has led to interest
in their use to impact health-related behaviors of users. However, little is
known regarding which devices are most effective for changing these
behaviors, and whether or not these devices
or accompanying applications (apps) are feasible or desired vehicles for
behavior change. Four focus groups were conducted with students from a Western
university who were given iPads to download diet-related apps. Participants
were asked questions about preferences regarding iPad functionality, app functionality,
and the likelihood of using apps and iPads
for facilitating diet-related behavior change in the future. Two key
themes emerged from focus group discussions on diet-related apps for iPads and
their usefulness to facilitate behavior
change. The first theme, lack of iPad practicality, contained three
subthemes: inconvenient mid-way technology, internet access barriers, and smart-phone preference. The second theme that emerged
was attitudes towards apps in general. Three subthemes were identified under
the second theme: too intensive; positive functions not specific to iPads;
and lack of reliable/trustworthy information. This paper is the first, to this
author’s knowledge, to report the use of qualitative methods to study the practicality
of using apps and iPads in changing dietrelated behaviors. Early generations of
iPads may not be effective devices for facilitating behavior change among college students; and diet-related apps seem
to have poor functionality that lead to cessation of use.

National health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES) (2010) National health and nutrition examination data. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/nhanes2009-2010/nhanes09_10.htm

Fox, S. and Duggan, M. (2012) Mobile health has found its market: Smartphone owners. Pew Research Center, Pew Internet and American Life Project.
http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Mobile-Health/Key-Findings.aspx